Vehicle-numbering device.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

A. BALZBR. VEHICLE NUMBERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5,1906.

WITNESSES: //v E/VTOR Q PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

A. BALZER. VEHICLE NUMBERING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.5,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' WWI wows UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST nA LzER, OF NEW YORK,.N. .Y.

VEHIGLE-NUMBERING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, AUGUST BA zER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Numbering Devices, of which the following is a .the whole device being made up in such a simple manner that a number can be composed without the use of tools in the stores where sold.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiarities more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims. i I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a front view of my device. Fig. 2, a back view thereof. Fig. 3, a longitudinal edge view. Fig. 4, an end view in which one of the figures is shown in the act of being removed. Fig. 5, a view of one of the'figure's. Fig. 6, a front view of my device applied to an ordinary vehicle side lamp, and Fig. 7, a horizontal section through the preceding figure.

The referenceletter a denotes the hanger-plate or frame to which the figures b, are removably attached. This plate consists of an oblong integral piece of thin sheet material, preferably brass, rounded at the ends, and cut out at the middle to leave an oblong space to be spanned by the figures which, when used across the front or Window 11. of a lamp m are easily read, as the light shines from behind through the space around themf By thus making the plate thin, it is flexible and can be bent or bowed to more easily contract its length for the purpose of inserting and withdrawing it from the front window of the lamp, and to allow it to conform to various curvatures thereof. The figures b, are also made of this material, preferably resilient sheet brass, the upper and lower ends of rows in the upper and lower bars of the plate, and are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6,1906. Serial No. 346,870.

Patented July 16, 1907.

the metal of the plate. The top d, of each loop is fiat to correspond with the flat face of the lugs. A recess d, is left beneath each loop in the plate where the loop is punched or stamped out of it, the lugs 0, extending across such "recesses when in the loops. The loops are spaced at equidistant points, each upper loop being opposite each lower loop to compose pairs of loops which hold the letters uniformly apart. To keep each figure from slipping up or down a wedgeshaped arm .e, is interposed between each lug, and figure at the top and bottom-of the figure, with its tapered end joined to the figure, and its wider end to the lug, whereby shoulders f are formed, which ongage the inner edges of the bridges. The lugs are placed at the longitudinal center of each figure, and the latter is provided with two. lugs only; and as all the loops arealike in size and shape, any individual figure will register with and fit each pair of loops, thus permitting a set of figures, from 0 to 9 inclusive, to be used interchangeably for the purpose of composing any number desired without the use of tools, and without changing the shape of the figures or the plate to which they are attached.

The figures can be inserted and removed by bending them sufficiently to draw the lugs closer together until they slip out from under the bridgesas seen in Fig. 4.

The means for fastening the whole device across the inside of the window n of a lamp consists of spring wires or retainers g attached to the back of the plate at its opposite ends. These resilient wires are disposed crosswise of the ends of the plate, and their four free ends will conform to and press against the inside of the lamp when released within it thereby adapting themselves to lamps of various widths, and as a whole, being expansible endwise and flexible laterally and accommodating itself to all brdinary sizes and shapes.

The peculiar manner of fastening these wires to the plate consists of three integral pliable lips h h h disposed alternately to fold in opposite directions over three zigzag turns lc, 70 h in the wire. These zigzag turns prevent the wire from slipping endwise out of the clenching lips.

It is apparent that many of the features of this invention are applicable to number plates adapted to beattached to the outside of automobiles etc., and that letters might be substituted for figures.

ed to take into said loops and hold the figures in place across said opening, substantially as described.

2. In a number plate or hanger, a plate upon which the figures are attached, in combination with an attaching wire at eachend of the plate, said .wlre being secured thereto byalternatlng lips integral with lthe plate, and zigzag portions in the, wire, substantially as described.

3. The herein described number plate or hanger, con; sisting of; the combination of a flexible plate having seentral longitudinal opening adapted to be spanned by the figures, a series of bridges, and one or more numbers each having lugs common to any pair of loops, whereby the numbers are interchangeable, substantially as described. 7 4. The hereindescribed number plate or hanger, consisting of tlse combination of a flexible plate having a central longitudinal opening adapted to be spanned by figures, a series of equidistant individual fastening devices arranged above and below said opening, and one or more figures each having fastening devices common to any pair of fastening devices on the plate, whereby the numbers are interchangeable, substantially as described.

5. The hereindescribed number plate or hanger, consisting of the combination of a plate having a central longitudinal opening adapted to be spanned by figures, a series of equidistant individual fastening devices arranged above and below said opening,

andone or more flexible figures each'havingfastenlng devices common to any pair of fastening devices on the plate, whereby the numbers are interchangeable, substantially as described.

6. In a number plate or sign for vehicles, a fleirible plate having a central .opening and provided with attaching devices, in combination with interchangeable figures which span the opening-and are engaged bysald attaching devices, substantially as described.

7. In a number plate or' sign for vehicle lamps, a flexible plate provided with indices, and adapted to conform to the shape of the lampwindow, in combination with opposing spring-retainers .which frictionally press against and conform to the inside of the lamp, substantially as described.

Signed at New State of New York.

AUGUST BALZER. Witnesses:

, RHESA G. DU Bors,

ISABEL Lnvmson.

York in the county of New York and 

